Page 12 of His Love

There was no point in him doing that. I had no intention of letting him stay. I just wanted to be alone to reflect on Emily’s words.

“You don’t need to pack a bag. I’m taking her with me,” Emily argued, stepping closer as if to shield me.

Axel stepped between us, but finally turned to Emily. “Can’t you see you’ve done enough? You’ve broken her down, Emily. You’ve hurt her with your words and your actions today. She doesn’t want to go with you. You need to calm down and call Onyx. I’ll take care of her.”

“Oh, like you took care of your wife?” she spat.

I couldn’t have stopped the gasp that left my mouth even if I’d wanted to. I was shocked at the careless words tumbling out of Emily’s mouth. “That’s a terrible thing to say!” I shouted. “How could you be so heartless?”

For the first time, I saw Emily look remorseful. Shock crossed her face and then her own eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Axel. That was really terrible of me.”

“I would like for you to call Onyx to come get you and then sit on the porch until he gets here.” Axel spoke slowly. His body was tense and he was clenching his jaw. The signs of distress were easy to see. I lifted my own hand up and stroked his face with the back of my fingers, just like he had done for me earlier.

“It’s not true,” I assured him. Even only knowing him for a few days, I knew it wasn’t. He was a great man and that alone made him a great Daddy.

Chapter Five

Axel

I couldn’t believe the words Emily spat at me. With her carelessness, I could almost feel my heart growing hard again.

I allowed Paisley to stroke my cheek gently when all I wanted to do was revolt and lash out. I wanted to call Emily terrible names and tell her exactly what she was acting like. I wanted to kick her out of my house. I wanted to tell Emily to take Paisley home and shut the door on them forever. I wanted to hit something, anything. I wanted to go back to the man I was before I met Junie. I wouldn’t, though. My sweet Junie-Bug had taught me a lot about forgiveness and kindness. She’d taught me how to love with my whole heart. I was still a grumpy bastard most of the time, but at least I was a loving grumpy bastard.

Instead of reacting, or overreacting, I took a deep breath and held Paisley's hand while she stroked my cheek. “I’m gonna pack a bag and then we will go to your appointment, okay? There’s some dry cereal and a sippy cup of milk in the fridge for you; eat that and we can grab something on the way back to your house, okay?”

“Yes, Sir,” she answered sweetly.

I kissed her forehead and went to my room without acknowledging Emily. I couldn’t answer her yet. I only hoped she would do as I asked.

My phone rang in my hand and I looked down to see Onyx’s face. I denied his call and sent him a text telling him Emily was here. I couldn’t handle speaking to him right now. My emotions were too strong.

I threw some things in my duffle bag, grabbed my charger, and threw on a shirt and my shoes. When I walked out of my bedroom, Paisley was sitting in the door of the nursery, rubbing her face in Fancy’s pink fur. The sight was tooth-rottingly sweet and soothed some of the anguish I felt.

“I’m glad you’re giving Fancy some love. I bet she needs it.”

She lifted her head and her red-rimmed eyes hurt my heart. I knelt on the floor in front of her and opened my arms. Rushing into them, she hugged me tight.

“I’m so sorry that Emily said that to you.”

“I am too, Little one, but I can assure you, it won't ever be said again,” Onyx’s voice startled both of us as we turned to see him climbing the stairs.

Soft sobs followed behind him and Emily appeared. “I’m so sorry, Axel, that was terrible of me. I don’t feel that way at all. I was just so angry with you that I said the thing I knew would hurt you the most.”

I didn’t turn around, but worked to be calm when I spoke. “I think that you have said some really heavy things today and I think we all need a bit of a cool down. I am going to take Paisley to her appointment, to lunch, and then to her home. I will be staying there with her for a few days. Why don’t we regroup over the weekend when we’ve all had a chance to calm down?”

“I think that’s a great idea. Right, princess?” Onyx said firmly.

“Yes, Sir. Yes, Uncle Axel.”

“But, Emily?”

“Yes, Sir?” she choked out.

“I am not the only one you upset today. You said some really hurtful things about Paisley as well. I want you to use this time to reflect on your role as a friend. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir. I'm so sorry, Paisley.”

Paisley nodded her head. She didn’t answer, though. I bet her mind was a million miles away and I would pay far more than a penny to know her thoughts.

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